15/08/2013 Look North (North East and Cumbria)

Hello and welcome to Thursday's Look North. Tonight: Oh, my God.

Making the grade — thousands of students across the North receive

their A level results. And the pass rate remains high. I got what I

wanted, so I'm really happy. She has worked so hard.

A steep rise in thefts at railway stations and on trains. British

Transport Police go undercover to try and catch the culprits.

The man who scooped half a million pounds after winning twice with the

same lottery ticket! When I go to the bank and I see zero, zero, zero

— I think that is when it will hit me.

And we're on the road with some die—hard football fans as they get

ready for the return of the Premier League. And what do some

ex—footballers think of their team's Premier prospects? We've been out on

to that favourite haunt of former players — the golf course — to find

out. The waiting and the worrying is over

at last. Thousands of students across the North got their A level

results this morning after a long, nail biting summer. And the picture

around the North East and Cumbria is one of high pass rates. Here's just

a selection of what our colleges are reporting: Churchill College in

Wallsend had a 100 per cent pass rate for the sixth year running.

Middlesbrough College is celebrating a 99.7 per cent rate. Sunderland

College had its best set of results with 99.6 per cent passes.

Scarborough Sixth Form College achieved 99 per cent for the second

year in a row and in Cumbria, Cockermouth School's pass rate was

98 per cent — up on last year. We've reports from around the region.

First to Alison Freeman who joined students in Brampton near Carlisle

as they arrived at college to open those dreaded envelopes. Oh, my God.

A happy ending to all those school years of hard work. Many pupils at

William Howard School in Brampton were in at 7am to find out if they'd

made the grade in their A—levels. Oh, my God. What are you going to do

next? Celebrate. I got what I wanted, so I'm really happy. She has

worked so hard. It gets me where I want to be. At William Howard, 75

per cent of students who took their A—levels this year will go to

University, despite the fees which could leave them tens of thousands

of pounds in debt. But the mood in the school this morning was one

mainly of excitement about the future. We've got the results that

we need to go onto university, so we are really chuffed. I'm going to be

a midwife. I'm so excited. It just means I've got so many more

options. I can do things I wouldn't otherwise be able to do. We are

celebrating fantastic results and it is about students moving forward to

the next stage of their life. So that's it — the results are in — as

they say and now its time for the pupils to get online to check to see

if they've got that all important university place, and of course

there might be time for some celebrating, too. Well, of course

good A—level results can open the door to a university education and

start students off on their path towards a particular career. Our

Correspondent Mark Denten's been to Middlesbrough College to meet one

student who's beaten all the odds to achieve top grades.

300,000 students and lots of percentage rates — A—level results

day is all about big numbers. It's also about small ones. One student.

One results slip. Just listen what it means for Intersha. It feels

great, really. I was worried last night and last week whether I'd get

them, but I got them now. Today Intersha picked up two A grades and

an A star at Middlesbrough College —he's off to Durham to study maths.

But he started his education in Bangladesh. I moved here with my

family and my mum couldn't speak English, so I stayed at my auntie's

in London. I stayed there for three or four years. It has been like

this. Intersha had trouble even finding a school that would take him

when he arrived in England. They were reluctant to take me. My dad

and uncle came and tried to explain that I do want to work hard. I had

admitted that I wasn't great at school in Bangladesh. I said I

wanted to work hard and do well. When you go to Bangladesh you see

that you are really fortunate here. You have got lots of opportunities.

If you want to work hard you can get to where you want. Mark Denten, BBC

Look North Middlesbrough. That is inspiring. For some, though,

despair. Thousands of A—level students didn't get the grades they

were hoping for. And that, of course, means possible rejection by

the university they were hoping to attend. Lucy Parry's been to

Northumbria University where a call centre's been set up to help those

who didn't quite make the grade. It can be a worrying time for those

who're still looking for a place on a course. Here at Northumbria

University, 50 call handlers are dealing with hundreds of calls in a

process known as "clearing". Students who haven't received

offers, or who've failed to get the required grades for their first

choice, are matched with available courses. Someone who hasn't achieved

their grades, of course, will have a range of concerns. What we try to do

is help them the best way we can. Part of it will be, is their

accommodation available for them to take courses? But mainly, I think,

it is helping them and matching them to a course that is good for them.

In a change to the system this year students who've done better than

expected can trade up to a different course or institution. Calls have

been coming in Saint Etienne this morning and staff will be on hand to

support prospective students. —— since 8am. An open day is being held

here at Northumbria tomorrow for anyone still interested in starting

a degree course. Any extra students will be a bonus to the university

which is celebrating its highest—ever number of applications.

Lucy Parry, BBC Look North, Newcastle.

Well, one question many A—level students will be asking themselves

is, "Will I be able to get a decent job when I've graduated from

university?" Earlier I spoke to Alex Hurrell, an analyst at the think

tank organisation Resolution Foundation. He told me the North has

a jobs gap of more than 40,000 posts and that it was vital young people

here got a good education despite the cost. The North East does have a

particular challenge because it has this jobs gap that we have

identified and it was already one of the regions with the lowest

employment rates. It is already struggling and has been hit hard by

the recession, so there is an issue about the number of available jobs

out there. That must be a concern for the young people, but I would

say they should still do the qualifications, because if there are

fewer jobs out there it is that much more important that they have good

qualifications because there are fewer to go round. Does that not

create a brain drain in the North East, where they moved to more

affluent areas knowing the jobs are there? That is a possibility. On the

other hand, if the North East is to recover the employment rate, plug

this jobs gap, it will need investment in the area and that will

require companies that come to the North East to see it as a good area

to do business in and one factor that will be if the North East has

lots of young people with very good qualifications. It would be worth

situation —— a worse situation... Officers investigating the murder of

a mother of three who used to live on Teesside are continuing to search

a lay—by between the A1 and Thirsk in North Yorkshire. Rania Alayed

vanished in June and two men have been charged with her murder.

Detectives have been searching a stretch of the A169 and A19 near

Thirsk today and are trying to trace a white camper van that could have

been used in her disappearance. An undercover police operation has

been launched after an unprecedented rise in thefts on trains and at

stations. Rail passengers are being urged to keep their valuables and

luggage safe as police try to combat the problem. Hundreds of incidents

have been reported so far this year here in the North. Phil Bodmer's

been given exclusive access to the undercover operation by British

Transport Police. Watch the pregnant woman on the left in the pink top.

While the couple to her right are in conversation, she moves a handbag

under the screen with her foot and an accomplice in a striped shirt

woks by, turns and picks up the bag. It is another example of increasing

thefts on trains in Yorkshire. I was shocked at how slick it was and how

unaware I was that it was happening at the time. It is just that moment

when you realise everything is gone. You feel absolutely devastated and

then you are really frustrated because it leads to a huge amount of

work to sort things out. Just to make you aware, keep your property

with you at all times... Transport police are today reminding

passengers to keep their belongings secure. Potential fees are also

being targeted. These passengers in front are actually undercover police

officers. On this train it is not long before they spot suitcases that

are vulnerable to theft. Well, it is not just luggage left here in the

vestibule is that has been stolen. Even items like bicycles are

vulnerable as well. Laptops and phones are also at risk, especially

in the carriages. With the launch of Operation Magnum, police are

warning... It is a CCTV rich environment, and we will prosecute

you at the end of the day. By highlighting her experience, Sarah

is hoping others can avoid a similar ordeal.

Let us know if you've experienced theft on the railways on the Look

North Facebook page. The details of how to log on are on your screen

now. Police have reopened an

investigation into sexual abuse at a former County Durham detention

centre. Prison officer Neville Husband and store man Leslie Johnson

were jailed in 2003 after being convicted of sexually abusing

inmates at Medomsley juvenile detention centre in the 1970s and

'80s. Both men are now dead. Now Durham Police have reopened the

investigation after a former inmate claimed he was also abused.

Medomsley closed in the late 1980s after the abuse came to light. It

has since reopened as a secure training centre.

Police are appealing for help in finding a missing man from

Newcastle. Peter Chapman, who's 54, was last seen near the Copthorne

Hotel on the Quayside on Monday. He was wearing a blue/grey denim jacket

with a striped brown jumper, blue jeans and white Lonsdale trainers.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact police.

She's the UK's first successful baby heart transplant survivor. Now 26,

Kaylee—Ann Davidson—Olley, from Houghton—le—Spring, has just

returned from her fifth World Transplant Games in South Africa,

having won a gold medal in the 100 metres relay and a ten pin bowling

bronze. It takes her total medal haul to seven, and banishes memories

of four years ago. I never say nothing is impossible, but two years

ago this wouldn't have been possible. I nearly had to have

another heart transplant in 2009, so this is a dream come true and the

icing on the cake and what I have been working for for the last four

years. Relatives of 9—year—old Katelyn

McAleavy from Whitehaven, who received a heart transplant earlier

this week, say they can't thank the family of the donor enough for

giving her a second chance at life. After ten months waiting for a donor

heart to come available, Katelyn's family received the call on Sunday

night. Katelyn is due to leave the intensive care unit and go back onto

the ward. Cumbria police have issued a warning

to young people after a man fell through a window doing what is known

as Park or. He suffered serious injuries.

You're watching Look North. And still to come this Thursday evening

we meet a very lucky lottery winner. Plus: More celebrations as the

Premier League returns and we follow two fanatical fans who worship

everything red and white. And I'll be here shortly with a full

weather forecast for the region of the North East and Cumbria. Pressure

charts, and looks — we've got a lot —— the lot.

Right, this fella one two lines on the lottery on the same ticket. One

netted him a tenner — the other a cool half million. Supermarket

worker Andy Gowling from Darlington says he's now planning to chill out

for a couple of years. And have a few treats of course. Damian O'Neil

has been to meet him. On any normal day, Andy would be

doing his jobs around the supermarket warehouse where he

worked until very recently, but today is different. Posing for the

cameras in a polyester Camelot shirt and being manhandled by a fussy

photographer, he managed to keep smiling throughout, and with half a

million quid in the bank, who can blame him? The darts fanatic says he

found out about the win after a bad day at Redcar races. It was the best

hangover cure I've ever had. I checked the top line and I had all

the numbers. I had to shout my son down because I couldn't believe it,

and then he came down and said, you've won. You've won half a

million. The obvious question is what do you do with half a million

pounds? First of all, I'll have a little holiday with my son and then

I'm going to buy my son a car and then hopefully I can go to Brazil

next year, the World Cup. It's one of my ambitions to go there and now

I have the money to do that. What about the longer term? Will you go

back to work? Worker have been good to me because they said I could go

back part—time. —— work. A couple of years to chill out. We can always

dream. One happy man, there. For some it's been... Torture. An

emptiness. For others, undoubtedly, a welcome break. But like it or not,

football's Premier League is back. Football League fans, of course,

have already had two weeks of it. So, for the die—hard, truly

obsessional fan it means dusting down the team shirt and getting back

to those match day rituals. Tomorrow we'll look at Newcastle, but tonight

we focus on what it all means for two Sunderland fans. Vic Downey and

his grandson, Lorne, as they worship anything and everything Red and

White. We took them back to their seats in the Stadium of Light for

tonight's Look North report. You know you're going to the game.

You've been looking forward to it and at the start you almost, sort

of, release the energy. THEY CHANT He always has to wear a

shirt, the same shirt. He always has to wear his little

white Sunderland had. It is everything, from getting dressed,

you know? I wear long johns because it gets cold. See, even I didn't

know that. I could have gone my whole life without knowing that. It

is the whole process. Certain years aren't quite the same, you know? I

mean, it's a terrible thing. You do miss it, don't you? The close of

season? You can't wait to get back to it. Animals hibernate, we should

do the same. We should hibernate until the start of the next season.

Amazing. Well, I said we were going to win, but it's one of those

things. You make the statement, but you don't really believe it. You

just hope. The thing is, we got the goal and then we just kept going. I

do know who supplies the manager's trousers... Your excuse to start

coming to the matches, that is what it was. I was your little excuse,

you're innocent excuse. How old was I? Ten, maybe? I couldn't stop

coming now if I tried. We are so much closer because of going to

football. It is something you believe in, it is something you want

to enjoy. We talk about the same things... It is everything, isn't

it? It's magic. I can't wait to see the new team, like. We have ten

signings now. Some really exciting names. As a Sunderland supporter you

can't expect that much. We've had so many downs it's unbelievable. You've

got to hope. We have got it pretty bad, yeah. It's a lovely feeling.

Seat, I like that line. That shopping is terrible. I'd rather sit

in a stadium wearing long johns. I must reiterate, before we get the

e—mails, we are doing Newcastle fans tomorrow.

We have our radio commentators looking through a crystal ball. It

is a bit cheesy. Two days to go, then, although

Newcastle don't play till Monday — and for those with a connection to

our clubs it's a mixture of excitement and anxiety ahead of the

new Premier League campaign. Today former players from all the teams in

our region were at a golf tournament at Ramside in Durham. And Peter

Harris found the banter in full flow.

A day on the golf course with thoughts never too far from the new

Premier League season. One above Sunderland. What do you want to

avoid? Getting relegated. I think Sunderland will finish well up the

table. I think they will be above halfway. This is the tournament

which features players from all of our region's clubs. And while the

Premier League clubs can still dream, the early start of the

football league means there have been a few bunkers already. There

are few people wondering what is going to happen, but you've got to

stick with people. Against Charlton we were a different team altogether.

Some things do change, though. The magpies have a sneaking admiration

for their neighbours. I think our manager might have a problem

whipping up that kind of independence. You can put that in.

Peter Harris, BBC Look North. The Italian one is made ten signings

head of Saturday 's game. Sunderland's head coach hasn't ruled

out further recruits before the transfer window slams shut.

It can help the club to get a result and see what is going on in the

future. Some transfer news, and Carlisle

have signed teenage striker Adam Campbell on loan from Newcastle for

a month. The 18—year—old, who can play up front or on the wing, is

expected to go straight into the Cumbrians' squad for Saturday's home

game against Coventry. While most Magpies fans would like to see

another striker arrive at the club, there's optimism that some of the

players recruited in the last transfer window have found their

feet. I think we will see the best out of the French guys who are

coming in January. It isn't easy coming from France into the

Premiership so quickly and they will be struggling a little bit with

injuries and the amount of games. Now they will be prepared for it.

They won the Europa League which will make a massive difference. I

think they will really excel this year. Our Premier League preview in

tomorrow night's Look North. Durham are still harbouring the hope of

making the semifinals. They were 153—5 in the third over a minute

ago. They need another 66 runs to beat Yorkshire. I get the feeling

the weather is on the turn, now. It might be like that for the next

couple of days at times. Generally the forecast is pretty good.

The weather is looking pretty good as we approach the end of the school

holidays. We begin with a weather warning for parts of Cumbria, a

weather warning from the Met Office for heavy and persistent rain, and

we are expecting that rain to be heavy across the rest of the region

as well. You can see those lurid greens and yellows on the map.

Through the early hours of the morning the rain will start to ease

in many parts, and the temperatures will be pretty high overnight. 17

Celsius is quite possible. Those are the temperatures we had in the

afternoon a few days ago, it is around the same temperature we had

last night, so very mild. Increasing amounts of sunshine for North

Yorkshire and parts of the North East, but still a few showers to

come at times in the West. Through the afternoon tomorrow, things will

brighten up with one or two isolated showers in the North. It will be

fine, dry and warm for North Yorkshire with temperatures of 21

Celsius, 70 Fahrenheit. In the North and West it will be dry.

Temperatures will be between 17 and 19 Celsius. A much more pleasant end

to the day tomorrow. This is the big picture. A fine day tomorrow and

then another weather systems sweeping in from the west. That will

squeeze the ice bars. Differences in pressure can mean some strong winds,

possibly gale force over the Cumbrian fells on Saturday. Fine

weather returns for Sunday, the white lines broaden and the wind

will ease. The sunshine returns. There will be heavy rain across

Cumbria on Saturday, clearing to bright spells on Sunday. Very

similar in the North East as well. There will be showers for much of

the region on Saturday, Sunday will look like the pick of the two days

over the weekend. Bright skies will return and next week the weather

will take a turn for the warmer. Thanks, Hannah, now for a last look

at tonight's headlines. More than 520 people are officially confirmed

dead in the violence in Egypt. But supporters of ousted President

Moursi claim the death toll is four times higher.

And targeting the sneak thieves. British Transport Police launch a

crackdown on luggage theft on our railways. That is it from me

tonight. See you again soon. Bye—bye.